Reciprocating propeller



(No Mod l B. SMITH,

REUIPROGATING PROPBLLER.

No. 341,955. Patented May 18, 188 6.

lihvrn STATES arnwr tribe.

ALPHONSO BUDD SMITH, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO SOLON PATTEE, or slit m PLACE.

RECIPROCATlNG PROPELLER.

SFECEFIOATIQN forming part of Letters Patent 150.341.5655, dated May 18, 1886.

Application filed August 2], 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ALPHONSO BUDD SMITH, a resident of San Francisco city and county, State of California, have invented a new and useful Reciprocating Propeller; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a reciprocating propeller having two or more blades and receiving action direct from the cylinder applied on the port and starboard quarters of a steamer, and to an improved means for applying the same to the stern of a steamer, either through, the keelson or directly astern upon it.

The following description fully explains the nature of my said invention and the manner in which I proceed to construct, apply, and operate the same, the accon'ipanying drawings being referred to by figures and letters.

Figure l is a longitudinal section in cleva tion showing the connection of the steam-propeller with the engine and the propeller-frame. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of a steamer, showing propeller attached to the quarter, the blades of one propeller being opened and the other closed. Fig. 4 is an end view of the propeller'frame, showing the end holes for the guide-rods and the central hole for the lever-rod. Fig. 5 isasection of the propeller-frame and shaft, showing the lever-rod arrangement and one-half of the propeller-blade closed. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the same, showing the lever-rod arrange ment and the propeller-blades open as in the action of the outward stroke. Fig. 7 is aplan view of the same, showing the lever-rod arrangement and the propeller-blades as in the action of the return-stroke. Fig. 8 is a sec tion of the shaft, showing its connection with the piston, the slot in the shaft, and the arrangement and connection of the reversing lever and the lever-rod andthe quadrantratchet attachment.

Referring to Fig. 3, my reciprocating propellers are shown attached on the port and starboard quarters of a steamer. I do not, however, confine myself to this arrangement, as I also arrange a single propeller having one or more blades on each side directly to the stern of a steamer, as the ordinary form of propeller is now commonly placed. In this arrangement the propeller-shaftis placed in the keelson or astern or directly upon it, and the propeller-frame is screwed to the end of the shaft and is supported on guide-rods in its action, and two or more propellerblades are pivoted to the propelleri'rame.

teferring to Fig. 1, the rudder-post extends through the rudder-port to a massive bar, j, of steel, iron, or bronze metal, in which it is stepped. One end of the bar is fastened to the keel by bolts 7:, and the other end is bolted to or forms part of a vertical bar, i, which eX- tends to the counter and is bolted to the ti mbers. To this vertical bar are attached by bolts the outer ends of the upper and lower guide-rods, 71 which extend through holes t t in the propeller-frame, from which the upper guide-rod passes into the timber of the counter and is bolted, and the lowerguiderod extends through a hole in the arm j on the bar j and is bolted to the keel.

The propeller-frameg, Fig. 4, is made of steel, iron, or bronze metal, and receives the guide-rods through the holes 25 i and through the central hole the lever-rod f extends out ward from the shaft 0. On the center of the inner side of the frame is a boss, 0, having lugs d, Fig. 6, and this boss is screwed to the mouth of the shaft. The pro iicllcr-blades a are made of steel, iron, or bronze metal in the form of a semicircle or other segment of a circle, and are pivoted by steel bolts to the logs on the boss, and bars or rods 1) of steel are pivoted at one end on steel bolts to the inner edge of the propeller-blades, and at the other end both rods are pivoted by a steel bolt to thelcver-rod, Figs. 6, 7. The shaft 6, of any required length and diameter, is constructed of bronze or other suitable metal and has bearings in a bed of massive lignum-vitae or teak resting on a foundation of timber upon or forming a part of the keelson. To the solid head of the shaft the piston is attached, and at a certain distance from the head a collar, 1-, is fixed on the shaft, and from this point the shaft is bored through for the action of the leverrod. At the bottom of the shaft there is a longitudinal slot, on, for the action of the reverse-lever a. This lever, having a quadrantratchet, 0, attached to the collar, is bolted to the collar, and on its lower end, which conforms to the shape of the shaft, is pivoted an arm, g, which is pivoted to an arm, 1;, which extends upward through the slot and is pivoted to the lever-rod, Fig. 8. The lever-rod passes out of the shaft and is connected by the rods b with the propeller-blades.

In the operation of my reciprocating propeller arranged at the stern of a'steamer, as the shaft e receives the outward stroke direct from the piston-rod it moves outward with the lever-rod, which action causes the propellerblades to open outward, Fig. 6, and as the shaft receives the return-stroke of the piston-rod it moves inward, and this action causes the propeller-blades to fold inward and close, Fig. 7, and this reciprocating movement of the propeller-blades causes the forward movement of the vessel, and vice versa. In the outward and inward movements of the shaft to which the propeller-frame is screwed the frame is guided back and forth by the guide-rods h,- but I do not confine myself to this use of the guide-rods, as the propellerframe is well supported by its attachment to the shaft, butI employ them more particularly to brace the bars t j, in which the rudder-post is stepped.

In backing the steamer the reverse-lever n, which is bolted to the collar 1' and operates in the shaft-slot m, is thrown forward and held in that position by the quadrant-ratchet 0, which action causes a reverse movement of the propeller-blades, which now close at the outward stroke and open at the inward stroke, and this reverse action causes the movement astern of the steamer. 1

The action of my reciprocating propellerblades in alternately opening and closing in their outward and inward movements, will keep dead and dragging water from the stern of the steamer and will prevent suction, and will give the steady forward movement of a boat propelled by oar-strokes, and, further, that this free and clean stern and steadiness of movement will enhance the power applied to the propellers and produce the highest rate of speed for the vessel.

The application of' my reciprocating propeller to the shaft to which the piston-rod is attached produces a direct fore-and-aft movement,whereby less machinery is required, and

this action enables me to simplify the mechanical arrangements, whereby the consumption vessel at the upper end and to the plate j at the lower end, and the guide-rods h h for receiving and guiding the propeller.

2. The.combination,with the propeller leaves or wings and reciprocating body or frame, of the lever-rodff0r operating the wings, the reversing-lever n, ratchet 0, and connections from lever n to lever-rod f at the inner end of the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the propeller blades or" wings a, hollow shaft e, attached to the working piston at one end and to the frame 9 of the propeller at the other, and provided with the slot m and collar 0, with the leverrod f, connecting by suitable link with the blades a. at one end, the reversing-lever a, connected to lever-rod f at its other or inner end by means of knees or links which work in the slot m, as set forth.

4. As an attachment to steamers or vessels, the combination of one or more reciprocating propellers, each having two or more blades, as a, hinged to the frame thereof, rods or links I), pivoted to blades a, connecting lever-rod f, having the links I) connected to it, reversinglever n, applied to the inner end of rod f, the frame-pieces j 71, secured to the vessel, and the guide-rods h 71., upon which the propeller plays, attached to the vessel and to part i, all substantially as'and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALPHONSO BUDD SMITH. \Vitnesses:

FERDINAND IMHoRs'r, J. H. HITCHIENS, J NO. L. TAGGARD. 

